A pensioner abandoned his home and cycled 30 miles through the night to check himself into a nursing home after being after being terrorised by robbers.

Bachelor Michael McMahon, 68, who has vowed never to return home, was already terrified after thieves stole €7,000 from him in two separate robberies at his home in Cree, near Cooraclare, Co Clare, two years ago.

After they threatened to return to rob him for a third time he packed all his belongings into a few bags at 1am at night and cycled for eight hours to St Joseph's nursing home in Ennis.

Details of Mr McMahon's ordeal, which included a threat to rob him of €50,000, were heard at Ennis Circuit Court today.

Outlining the facts in court, Det Garda Donal Corkery said Mr McMahon was living alone in the rural, remote location two miles from the village of Cooraclare without any electricity or running water.

He said that Mr McMahon had cash in his home from an inheritance he received from America.

At court today three west Clare men pleaded guilty to robbing Mr McMahon.

In the case, Joseph Lernihan, 21, of Finnanon Park, Mullagh pleaded guilty to robbing Mr McMahon at Drumellihy West, Cree on February 21 and 25 2012 with Shane Donnellan, 20, Clohanbeg, Cree, Kilrush and Noel Garry, 20, of Tullycrine, Kilrush pleaded guilty to the robbery of Mr McMahon on February 25, 2012.

Det Corkery said that over the two nights around €7,000 in cash was robbed from Mr McMahon.

In evidence, Det Corkery said that at 10pm on February 21st, Mr McMahon heard banging outside his home and could see three torches in the darkness outside, and three people wearing hoodies.

They demanded cash and he eventually handed over €4,000 which he had in the house.

Det Corkery said that one of the robbers told Mr McMahon “No gardai. We won’t be back. We won’t get mad”.

The Detective said that Mr McMahon on the night “felt weak and was fearful from the whole ordeal, but at the time did not make any complaint to the Gardai”.

Det Corkery said that the following day, Mr McMahon went to the AIB in Kilrush to withdraw €3,000 from his bank account and replaced the windows by placing blocks and turf in the gaps made.

He said: “Mr McMahon attended the bank two or three times a year and would withdraw roughly €3,000 and he would live on that for three to five months. As he had no money, that is why he had to go in.”

Det Corkery said that the source of Mr McMahon’s income was an inheritance from America.

Four nights later on February 25 robbers returned and Mr McMahon saw that blocks were being removed from one of his broken windows and that a pipe was being pointed into the house.

Det Corkery said that it was a rung of a gate two to three foot in length and made to resemble a gun.

Mr Coughlan said: “He was told that it was a gun and if he tried to leave the room he would be shot.”

Mr Coughlan said that Mr McMahon heard one of the robbers say ‘you fuckin’ bastard. You must have a gun and I’ll shoot you if you go into the other room”.

The counsel said: “Mr McMahon opened the door and saw were four people outside. One of these brought Mr McMahon out to the rear of the house while the others searched the house."

“They demanded and got Mr McMahon’s bank books and they told Mr McMahon to go to the bank the following Monday and withdraw €50,000 and they would be back for that.”

Mr Coughlan said that the robbers “told him that if he contacted the Gardai, they would come back and burn his house down”.

It was that night at 1am that Mr McMahon decided to leave the home and set off for Ennis 30 miles away, the court heard.

Det Corkery said that on arriving at St Joseph’s, Mr McMahon also made a complaint to Gardai. Det Corkery said that Mr McMahon remained at St Joseph’s for two days before being transferred to St Theresa’s nursing home in Kilrush where he remains today.

He said: “Mr McMahon is not a frail man. He is in good health, but he is fearful and has informed us that he will never return home again.”

Probation reports are not yet ready in the case and Judge Carroll Moran adjourned sentencing to Ennis Circuit Couurt to March 3rd remanding Mr Garry in continuing custody and remanding Mr Lernihan and Mr Donnellan on continuing bail.